Farewell Delicious Gift

"I will miss you so much, Zelpunrap.”

Calista held my hands tightly, tears rolling down her cheeks one after another. I stared at her. She really knew how to cry beautifully. Anyone looking at her right now would think she was losing the most precious person in her life.

“Don't cry, Calista,” Mother said gently, standing right beside her.

I almost laughed. They were all standing outside the house to see me off, but nobody actually looked sad. Father had his usual cold, hard expression on his face, while Mother kept glancing at me as if she couldn't wait for the carriage doors to close. Even Calista's tears didn't look real to me. 

She squeezed my fingers tighter. “I really wish you didn't have to leave,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

“Really?” I asked, making her pause.

I smiled right in her face. “Then you should come with me.”

Calista's expression froze for a split second before she forced another sad, sweet smile. “I... I can't.”

“Of course you can't.” I pulled my hands away from hers.

She looked up at me with those innocent eyes everyone in the house loved so much.

She's my twin sister. The perfect daughter, the graceful princess, and the saint of the family. And me? I'm the monster they had been trying to hide away and get rid of for years.

Father cleared his throat loudly. “Zelpunrap, the carriage is ready. Stop wasting time.”

I turned my head to look at him. He didn't even bother pretending to say goodbye.

I smiled smoothly. “Don't worry, Father. I won't miss you either.”

His face darkened instantly. Mother quickly looked away toward the trees, and Calista started sniffing softly again. I rolled my eyes and turned my back on all of them, walking straight toward the carriage.

I wasn't going to waste another second pretending to be sad. I was getting married to a human prince, an actual human. That was the only thing that made this whole forced marriage interesting to me.

At least I wouldn't have to marry some arrogant vampire noble who thought his ancient blood was too precious for someone like me. Humans were much better. Their skin was soft, their hearts beat fast, and their blood tasted delicious.

I climbed into the carriage without looking back once. My personal maid scrambled in right behind me, sitting on the narrow wooden bench opposite mine as the guard 

slammed the heavy door shut.

Finally, I leaned back against the dark seat and smiled. I was leaving this miserable house behind. And honestly? I couldn't be happier.

The carriage jerked forward and began moving down the dirt road. For a while, the ride was quiet, until the maid opened her mouth and ruined it.

“My lady, are you happy that you're finally getting married?” she asked, offering me a small, nervous smile.

I looked at her. “Extremely.”

Her smile widened a little. “I'm happy for you.”

I almost laughed out loud. She had no idea what was coming.

I shifted on my seat and leaned closer to her. She blinked, her heart starting to beat just a little bit faster against her ribs.

“My lady?” she murmured.

I grabbed her waist with one hand and pulled her body across the small space toward me. Her eyes widened in sudden panic. “What are you…”

I sank my fangs straight into her neck.

Her scream was muffled against my shoulder as I held her tight against my chest. Warm, rich blood rushed into my mouth, sweet and full of life.

I closed my eyes to enjoy the heat of it. Damn, that was good. Very good.

The maid struggled weakly for a few seconds, her small hands pushing against my arms, but it didn't take long before her legs went completely limp. I kept drinking, swallowing every drop until her pulse sputtered out and there was nothing left.

When I finally let go, her body fell back onto the cushion like a sack of wet cloth. I looked down at her pale, lifeless face and wiped my chin with the back of my hand.

“What a delicious farewell gift.” I opened the carriage door with my foot, grabbed her by the back of her collar, and shoved her body out into the dirt. It rolled down the small ditch as the carriage kept rolling forward.

I pulled the door shut, sat back down, and wiped the corner of my mouth with my thumb.

“It's a pity that I won't see your pretty face again,” I pouted.

The entire carriage fell completely silent for three seconds. Then the driver's shaky voice came from the front bench outside.

“My lady?”

I looked up at the small wooden window near the front. “Yes?”

“Were you talking to me?”

I couldn't stop myself from laughing out loud. “I said I'm horny.”

There was absolute silence from the front seat. I smiled to myself, settling deeper into the leather cushions, because this long, boring journey was already becoming interesting.

I sat comfortably inside the moving carriage, listening to the steady thrum of the wooden wheels grinding against the dirt road. The driver was completely quiet now, probably still trying to process what I had just said to him. I couldn't really blame the poor man. Most humans and vampires alike became extremely nervous whenever they had to sit near me for too long.

I leaned my head against the side window and watched my family's massive, dark estate slowly disappear behind the thick trees.

I didn't feel a single drop of sadness about leaving that place. If anything, my chest felt lighter than it had in years.

For sixteen years, I had been treated like a wild animal by the very people who were supposed to raise me. They locked me up in the lower dungeons, starved me for days at a time, and tried everything they could to ruin me simply because they decided I was the cursed twin from some old prophecy.

Well, they finally got what they wanted. I was gone. And I had no intention of ever looking back.

I rested my hands on my lap and let my smile grow. 

At least I was going to marry a human. That was the only part of this entire arrangement that made me want to celebrate.

I had already heard enough about vampire nobles and their obsession with pure bloodlines to last a lifetime. I didn't want some arrogant vampire prince looking down his nose at me because of my dark skin, or because I didn't act like the sweet, quiet little princess everyone wanted me to be.

A human prince was completely different. Humans were fragile. Their bodies broke easily, and their blood was warm and soft. 

And most importantly, my new husband was going to be mine to deal with. I could already imagine pinning him down and sinking my teeth deep into his throat whenever I felt like it.

I ran the tip of my tongue over my fangs, tasting the faint, iron trace of the maid's blood that still lingered in my mouth.

The driver cleared his throat nervously 

from the front seat. “My lady?”

I opened my eyes and stared at the back of the wooden wall. “What?”

“Nothing,” he said quickly, his voice tight.

I narrowed my eyes at the wood. This man was clearly sweating through his shirt right now, terrified that I might climb out the window and take a bite out of him next.

I let out a low chuckle. “Why are you so nervous up there?”

“I am not nervous, My Lady,” he lied, clutching the reins so tight I could hear the leather strain.

“You definitely are.”

He didn't answer me after that.

I smiled and turned my gaze back toward the open road outside. The journey to the human kingdom of Averaine was going to take a few days, but I didn't mind the wait. 

I had spent sixteen years locked in a damp cell waiting for a chance to break free, so a few days in a moving carriage felt like nothing. Now that I was finally out, nothing was going to ruin my good mood.

I touched my lips with my tongue again, remembering how warm the maid's blood had felt as it went down my throat.

“Hmm,” I muttered to myself. It really was good.

I was already looking forward to getting my 

hands on my new husband. I wanted to see what a human prince tasted like, and the mere thought of it made me grin from ear to ear. 

I didn't know what he looked like yet. I didn't know if he was tall, if he was weak, or if he was even remotely handsome. But none of those details mattered to me in the slightest. The simple fact that he was a human man sitting in a palace waiting for me was more than enough.

I rested my head back against the seat, closed my eyes, and let the rhythmic rocking of the carriage lull me into a comfortable state. A satisfied smile stayed on my face as we crossed deeper into the neutral lands leading toward Averaine.

I had no idea that the husband waiting for me at the end of this road was nothing like the fragile human I was imagining.